ZTE Corporation has signed a contract with Italian fixed wireless broadband provider EOLO to develop a 5G Standalone mmWave network.
The contract adds another vendor to EOLO’s roster after the company signed a similar agreement with Finnish vendor Nokia in December.
The multi-year partnership will enable EOLO to expand its infrastructure to achieve its 1 Gbps FWA network coverage goal, claims ZTE.
EOLO, which serves more than 7,000 towns and 700,000 customers, including 116,000 businesses and public institutions, is aiming to bridge the digital divide across Italy.
ZTE will provide EOLO with 5G mmWave radio access systems, which include components such as RAN baseband, RAN radio, and FWA CPE terminals,
To date, ZTE has shipped more than four million 5G FWA & MBB terminal units worldwide, claiming to be the biggest provider in the world.
"These infrastructures, which complement fiber coverage, play a pivotal role in strengthening networks and driving the country's future growth. Starting in 2025, we will roll out 1 Gbps FWA networks, ushering in a new era of connectivity,” said Guido Garrone, CEO at EOLO.
Founded in 1999, EOLO SpA is a national telecommunications operator, that provides ultra-broadband for the residential and business markets. The company states on its website that it has more than 1.6 million customers.
Nokia’s deal with EOLO runs for four years and will see the vendor provide its 5G AirScale portfolio, which includes its AirScale baseband solutions, Massive MIMO radios, and Remote Radio Head products. Nokia will also provide its Shikra mmWave radios for 5G capacity, ultra-wide bandwidth, and coverage.
